My patriot ancestors:

One of the terms that gets thrown around in genealogy is "Patriot Ancestor". A Patriot ancestor is simply an ancestor who fought for the colonists in the Revolutionary War, signed the Declaration of Independence, or otherwise was really sweet back in the late 1700s. Being able to prove that you're descended from a Patriot allows you membership into groups such as the Daughters of the American Revolution or Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revolution, or Children of the American Revolution.

Becoming a member of one of those groups is a big deal -- the DAR has approximately 165,000 members according to its website, and the SAR is over 30,000 strong (Wiki (accessed 2013)). They are storehouses of genealogical information and are, in general, charitable organizations.

Be aware, they aren't free: when I looked into joining the SAR, the costs were estimated in their membership section to be about $140 for the first year and $50 thereafter. Since I do genealogy as a hobby and think it ought to be nearly free (except the website, for me), I haven't ponied up yet.

There would also be a large amount of proof you would need to show to join these organizations, and I don't hold as much as I ought to of that proof, I only have the information I've found in papers and censuses along with others' work. Someday I will put it all together as it ought to be.

I think that I have an extraordinary amount of patriots in my ancestry. However, it is somewhat lessened by the fact that nearly all of my ancestors that I have been able to trace back to 1776 were still in the US - people of this age are typically my great x5 or great x6 grandfathers - I should have 64 to 128 male ancestors living in the US during this time, minus the very few lines not yet in America (Sarah Milliken's line from Ireland, Andrew Walker from Ireland, etc.)

Without Further ado, I believe my Patriot ancestors may be (thus far):

  • Antes, John Henry -- Ever hear of Fort Antes? My guess is that, unless you grew up in Central Pennsylvania, you haven't, but it was a fort built and used in the years surrounding the Revolutionary War. It was actually built by the Colonel John Henry Antes and his men on his property near Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. Henry Antes and his family are my best, most absolute connection to a patriot. He has been used as a patriot ancestor for several accepted SAR applications, and his work has been documented in a book, "On the Frontier with Colonel Antes". Col. Antes and I are related through the following descendancy:
    1. Elisabeth Antes
    2. Jacob Barnhart
    3. John Holt Barnhart
    4. Sarah Edith Barnhart
    5. Madeline M. Johnson
    6. Ellen Edith Grove
    7. Ruth Ellen Walters
    8. Me

  • Barnhart, John Philip Sebastian -- Interestingly enough, this man married Elisabeth, the daughter of Lieut. Antes, or the niece of Col. Frederick (above). According to a site maintained by Gideon Rench Kinports, "Served two enlistments and was drafted for the third service but hired a substitute. He fought in the battles of Germantown, Brandywine and Valley Forge." His pension filing indicates the same - four months of service, some under his wife's uncle - but not enough to receive a pension. Accordingly, the line from him to me is as follows:
    1. Jacob Barnhart
    2. John Holt Barnhart
    3. Sarah Edith Barnhart
    4. Madeline M. Johnson
    5. Ellen Edith Grove
    6. Ruth Ellen Walters
    7. Me

  • von Neida, Johann Philip -- I feel I ought to include my father's side of the family. Although some of his ancestors were in the country by 1776, there seem to have been fewer Patriots. That is certainly not to say they were Tories - they were mostly German and Scotch/Irish, - but they are just seldom mentioned, and most were probably farmers. Johann Philip (Philip) has been used as a Patriot Ancestor in three applications to the DAR. He is said to be found in the Pennsylvania Archives Series 3, Vol. 6, p. 318 as 'Philip Voneta' in the PA Militia under Capt. John Lesher, and in Series 3, Vol. 19, p. 553 in the Federal Supply Tax list.
    1. Heinrich Vonada
    2. John H. "Hairy John" Vonada
    3. Israel Vonada
    4. George W. Vonada
    5. Jay Lee Vonada
    6. Mervin J. Vonada
    7. Mervin Dale Vonada
    8. Me

    Really, the interesting part about this is that I graduated with several of my 6th cousins, connected through Heinrich. This would allow a significant portion of the Penns Valley Area (in Centre Co., PA) to be a member of one of these groups.

  • Roush, George "Casper" -- George is listed in "The Roush Family in America" as a member of the Northumberland Rangers. This book states that more can be found in the Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 23, p. 256 as a member of these Rangers, 1778-1783. An image of this page is on George's page on this site.
    1. Frederick Roush
    2. Susanna Roush
    3. George W. Vonada
    4. Jay Lee Vonada
    5. Mervin J. Vonada
    6. Mervin Dale Vonada
    7. Me


  • Roush, John "Jacob" -- Jacob fought with his father in the war as part of the Northumberland Rangers. Again, "The Roush Family in America" states that more can be found in the Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 23, p. 256 as a member of these Rangers, 1778-1783. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Vol. 2, p. 352 and Vol. 4 p. 131, Jacob is listed as a private in the Third Pennsylvania Regiment from June 1, 1777 to 1781.
    1. Frederick Roush
    2. Susanna Roush
    3. George W. Vonada
    4. Jay Lee Vonada
    5. Mervin J. Vonada
    6. Mervin Dale Vonada
    7. Me


  • Holt, John Sr. -- Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 6, Page 319; Commissioned Ensign, Fifth Batallion, First Company, Cumberland Co, Militia, July 31, 1777. The "Commemorative biographical record of Central Pennsylvania" (1898) by J.H. Beers and Company notes of John "He gained his title of 'colonel' in the Revolutionary War, and took part in several battles, among them being the engagement at Germantown."
    1. Mary Holt
    2. John Holt Barnhart
    3. Sarah Edith Barnhart
    4. Madeline M. Johnson
    5. Ellen Edith Grove
    6. Ruth Ellen Walters
    7. Me

  • Walter, David -- David's pension file is available on this site. I believe the evidence for David is solid, as he did receive a pension from the US Government after three stints in the militia, at least one of which was through a draft.
    1. Philip Walter
    2. Daniel C. Walter
    3. Jeremiah Walters
    4. John Wellington Walters
    5. Norman Donald Walters
    6. Ruth Ellen Walters
    7. Me

  • Heu, Johan Albrecht -- Another one from my father's side. Arrived in the country in 1751, would have only been in his late 30's and early 40's for the war. It is said that he fought in it in several sources, but not enough for me to feel that it is verifiably so. Still, it's a good possibility.
    1. George Albert Hoy
    2. Susannah Hoy
    3. Israel Vonada
    4. George W. Vonada
    5. Jay Lee Vonada
    6. Mervin J. Vonada
    7. Mervin Dale Vonada
    8. Me

  • Fought, Michael -- Michael is used on several DAR applications, with reference to PA Archives Vol 14, P 342 - Pvt. Michael Fought, Sept 26, 1776 - 4th Battalion - 1st Company - Capt. John Clark Northumberland Co - Col. Philip Cole. The fun part about this family is that the family all moved west except Hannah, who stayed behind to be with her man, my great x4 grandfather Philip Walter(s). While most family histories seem to forget Hannah, May Gillier Engler's DAR application does noe, and lists Philip as well.
    1. Michael Fought/Vogt
    2. Hannah Fought/Vogt
    3. Daniel C. Walter
    4. Jeremiah Walters
    5. John Wellington Walters
    6. Norman Donald Walters
    7. Ruth Ellen Walters
    8. Me

  • Stover, William -- William has been accepted as a patriot ancestor for the DAR, as he's listed as fighting under Captain John Jones, Col. Peter Grub of the Lancaster Co. Militia, as seen in the PA Archives, Series 5, Vol 7, p. 803. Indeed, Anita (Thomas) Sprankle, born in Bellefonte, PA, used a line down to William Grove, then Nathan Grove, David Calvin Grove's brother. All that would need proven was our connection to William Calvin Grove, which is fairly simple.
    1. Catherine Stover
    2. George Grove
    3. William Grove
    4. David Calvin Grove
    5. Roy William Grove
    6. Ellen Grove
    7. Ruth Ellen Walters
    8. Me
  • Stover, Frederick -- An astute reader may ask 'Why do you have William AND his brother Frederick?' And I would reward that astute reader for asking such a good question. Frederick's daughter Elizabeth married William's grandson George. How about that? Frederick has been accepted as a patriot ancestor for the DAR, as he's listed as a Northumberland County Ranger, as seen in the PA Archives, Series 3, Vol 23, pp. 338-340. Anita (Thomas) Sprankle, born in Bellefonte, PA, used a line down to William Grove for this membership application as well, so again, our task is fairly simple.
    1. Elizabeth Stover
    2. William Grove
    3. David Calvin Grove
    4. Roy William Grove
    5. Ellen Grove
    6. Ruth Ellen Walters
    7. Me

  • Rhone, Michael and John -- John is an interesting tale, proportedly born in 1698 and living to the ripe age of 125, he is said to have been a Revolutionary War supplier, which is usually enough to qualify, but is a story I generally don't accept. From Linn's History of Centre and Clinton Counties: "When Michael (Rhone) was a boy he assisted his father in conveying supplies to Washington's army at Valley Forge." While I'd like to see more, this is generally echoed in other histories. For example, Beers' cmmemorative Bigraphical record states: "John Rhone located in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks Co.,... where he followed the blacksmith trade for many years. At the close of the revolutionary War he moved to Franklin County and engaged in farming." I shall look for more evidence, but feel that this is a likely candidate.
    1. John Rhone
    2. Michael Rhone
    3. Nancy Rhone
    4. Elizabeth Harshberger
    5. Lucy Anna Baney
    6. John Wellington Walters
    7. Norman Donald Walters
    8. Ruth Ellen Walters
    9. Me